Purdue Extension accepting nominations for Hovde Award

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Extension is currently accepting nominations for the prestigious Frederick L. Hovde Award.

This award is given annually to a member of Purdue faculty or staff who has gone above and beyond to provide educational services to rural Indiana.

Karen Plaut, who serves as the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture for Purdue, as well as the chair of the Hovde Award Committee, said the college is excited to continue honoring deserving individuals with the Hovde Award.

“It’s for people who make a difference,” said Plaut, adding that typically the award winner is someone who has been helping to make an impact in rural Indiana for several years.

Plaut said that this year besides selecting someone who has been dedicated to helping rural Indiana, it will be interesting to see what the nominees did during the COVID-19 pandemic to help Hoosiers.

Plaut said the award is given to an employee or staff member of Purdue who is helping people who live and make a livelihood in rural Indiana, no matter where they are in the state.

“We have offices in all 92 counties,” Plaut said, adding that typically only one Hovde Award is given annually, but last year two individuals were honored for their countless years of dedication to helping improve rural Indiana.

The 2019 winners of the Hovde Award were Renee McKee, who is a retired Purdue Extension assistant director and 4-H youth development program leader, and Roy Ballard, who is a retired Purdue Extension agriculture and natural resources educator in Hancock County.

Nominations for the award are due by Sept. 2.

To nominate someone for the Hovde Award or find out more information, visit: https://ag.purdue.edu/arge/Documents/HovdeAward/HovdeAwardPacket2020.pdf.